Vester s



(.No Model.)

0. F. MARKLAND. COMBINED GRAOKBR AND GROCERS dAN.

- No. 256,806. Patented Apr'.18,1882.

15. a M %m ilNiTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. MABKLAND, OF PITTSBURG, ASSlGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SYL- VESTER S. MARVIN, OF KILLBUCK TOWNSHIP, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA.

COMBINED CRACKER AND GROCERS CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 256,806, dated April 18, 1882,

Application filed October 13, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MARKLAND, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Cracker and Grocers Can; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, forming a partof this speci- IO fication, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, showing difi'erent ends of the can; and Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the can.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts 1 ineach.' I Y My invention relates to certain improvements in the cans used for packing crackers for transportation and preservation, its object being to add to its convenience as a cracker box or can, and at the same time form it into a neat and convenient can or caddy for bolding teas, cofi'ees, spices, and other groceries.

The crackercans heretofore used have been formed of tin to preserve the crackers from 2 5 dampness, and have generally been provided witha glass face for displaying the contents of the box, and a hinged top lid, which was opened for the removal of the crackers. The cans, when filled, were shipped to any desired place, a separate charge being made for the cans, and as they were only specially useful for crackers they were generally returned, when empty, to the cracker-manufacturer, an allowance being made for the cans when so 5 returned. As the lid of the can was on the top, if several cans were piled on each other, it was always necessary to remove the upper ones to obtain access to one of thelower boxes or cans. 40 ranged that their contents can be reached at the side, and after they are emptied they form a grocers can, which is more convenient than the ordinary one now in use, so that there is much less liability of their being returned to 5 the cracker-manufacturer.

My invention consists, first, in providing the ordinary cracker-can having a hinged top lid with a hinged side lid or door, so as to give 210- cess to it from the side, and render it useful as By my invention the cans are so ar a grocers can by providing itwiththeordinary side lid and a top lid for filling and other purposes; and, second, in forming the side of the cracker-can in which the side lid is secured with a bulged or convex face to impart to it a neat and attractive appearance as a grocers can.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and manner of use.

In the drawings, A represents my improved can, which is provided with the ordinary hinged top lid, B, and open front, G, in which a pane of glass, 0, is secured to display the contents of the box, the glass being held in place by bending tin cleats 0 over its edges.

D is a tin or other sheet-metal false back or plate, by means of which one or more layers of the crackers are held against the glass face, as shown in Fig. 2, to give the can a full appearance where part of the contents is removed. This false plate is removable, and is secured in place by tongues f, which fit into seats 9 on the bottom of the can, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, cleats h being bent over and pressed against the false plate after the layers of crackers are secured in place. The opposite end of the can has the bulged or convex face K, which can be ornamented in any desired manner, as is usual in tea-caddies, and is cut out in a downwardlyextending curve from the upper corners to form a side opening,

l, into the cam-thus giving access to it at the side as well as at the top. This side opening,

I, is closed by the lid or door M, hinged along the top of the box, the lower edge of this lid corresponding in curve to that of the opening I, so that whenclosed it will fit it neatly. This side lid may also be decorated in the usual manner with tea and grocers cans, and have the name of any particular article marked thereon.

My improved cracker and grocers can is used in the following manner: The false back D having been secured to the base of the can, one or more layers of crackers are placed next 5 to theglass face (3, and the false back is then pressed against the crackers and secured in place by the cleats h, which are bent over ing-the false back being bent out of the way against the can.

against it. The balance of the can is then filled in the usual manner and thecan shipped to the grocer or other consumer. Where access is desired to any can in selling the crackers, if the other cans rest on it, as is frequent- .ly the ease, the crackers can be conveniently removed through the sidelid, M,without removing the cans above it, as has heretofore been -iing the glass, removing it, and securing the tin back D in its place by bending over the cleats e, as seen in'Fig. 3, the cleats h for hold- The grocers can thus formed has the same appearance as the ordinary grocers can, and, besides the ordinary side lid, M,

has the supplemental top lid, B, which is exceedingly convenient for filling or for removing large quantities from the can.

.I am thus enabled to form a can which is .much more convenient for both crackers and grocers than either the old-style cracker or grocers cans, and one which, when emptied of crackers, will in most cases be employed for groceries, so that few are returned to the manufacturer, thus saving the grocer the expense of grocers cans and the cracker-manufacturer the expense, trouble, and wear on the cans in carrying them back.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combined cracker and grocers can herein described, provided with a hinged top lid, B, and hinged side lid, M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combined cracker and grocers can herein described, provided with the hinged top lid, B, the bulged face K, and the hinged side lid, M, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. Ina combined cracker and grocers can having a hinged top lid, B, hinged side lid, M, and open face 0, with glass pane c, the removable sheet-metal false back D, adapted to be secured in the. place of the glass. pane c, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said CHARLES F. ll/IARKLAND, have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES F. MARKLAND.

Witnesses:

S. S. MARVIN, J AS. W. GILMORE. 

